Development of New Materials Based on Multinuclear Ruthenium Complexes. The program aims to design new materials for use in applications such as catalysis and light-activated devices (including light harvesting or solar energy conversion), for the detection and analysis of specific small molecules and anions of particular interest, and to provide an insight to the operation of biological systems such as metal-containing enzymes. The particular molecules will also be investigated for the developm ....Development of New Materials Based on Multinuclear Ruthenium Complexes. The program aims to design new materials for use in applications such as catalysis and light-activated devices (including light harvesting or solar energy conversion), for the detection and analysis of specific small molecules and anions of particular interest, and to provide an insight to the operation of biological systems such as metal-containing enzymes. The particular molecules will also be investigated for the development of a new type of therapeutic agent for the treatment of a range of diseases, with a particular interest in this work on a drug for the treatment of HIV-AIDS. Read moreRead less
Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. ....Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. Using the combined expertise of the applicants, it is proposed to stereospecifically synthesise dinuclear complexes and study their DNA binding. This will greatly assist in the development of drugs that can selectively target genes and altered DNA.Read moreRead less
Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators. The need for orally effective drugs as alternatives to invasive treatment regimens such as subcutaneous infusion is an ongoing concern in health care. This is particularly true in people suffering iron overload. In many cases this condition is present at birth and thus the administration of vital iron chelation therapy via the oral route is a much preferred option. We have unearthed a novel series of candidates for iron chelation therapy ....Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators. The need for orally effective drugs as alternatives to invasive treatment regimens such as subcutaneous infusion is an ongoing concern in health care. This is particularly true in people suffering iron overload. In many cases this condition is present at birth and thus the administration of vital iron chelation therapy via the oral route is a much preferred option. We have unearthed a novel series of candidates for iron chelation therapy (the pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone [PCIH] analogues) which show oral activity. These chelators undergo some interesting iron catalysed oxidation chemistry and it is vital that the mechanism of this reaction be elucidated to determine whether it will be of biological significance upon administration of these compounds as iron chelators.Read moreRead less
Spotlighting biologically active Iron (Fe) chelators within cells. Anti-cancer drugs that act in ways different from traditional chemotherapeutics offer hope in evading acquired drug resistance. Previously we have studied compounds that can enter cancer cells, bind iron and halt cellular proliferation. However, there are many sources of iron in cells and we do not know from where these iron chelators acquire their iron or how these iron complexes kill cancer cells. We will tackle this problem by ....Spotlighting biologically active Iron (Fe) chelators within cells. Anti-cancer drugs that act in ways different from traditional chemotherapeutics offer hope in evading acquired drug resistance. Previously we have studied compounds that can enter cancer cells, bind iron and halt cellular proliferation. However, there are many sources of iron in cells and we do not know from where these iron chelators acquire their iron or how these iron complexes kill cancer cells. We will tackle this problem by attaching light emitting probes to known iron chelators and mapping their location within cells with high resolution fluorescence microscopy. These experiments will spotlight the cellular location of these potential drugs bound to iron for the first time, providing crucial information on their mode of action.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775590
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A single crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for structural analysis of small molecules. In recent years their have been major advances in the capacity of instrumentation to determine the crystal and molecular structure of chemical compounds and materials which in turn has resulted in a rapidly growing understanding of the relationship between the structure of molecules and their function in the design of new materials and as drugs for the treatment of disease and pain. This infrastr ....A single crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for structural analysis of small molecules. In recent years their have been major advances in the capacity of instrumentation to determine the crystal and molecular structure of chemical compounds and materials which in turn has resulted in a rapidly growing understanding of the relationship between the structure of molecules and their function in the design of new materials and as drugs for the treatment of disease and pain. This infrastructure also provides training of an international standard for undergraduate and post graduate students, thus building the skills capabilities of Australian scientists in the workforce.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775676
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,000.00
Summary
An X-ray Diffraction Facility for Molecular Structure Determination. Characterisation of new chemical compounds demands proof of molecular structure. Whether for the identification of a new drug candidate, a material with novel properties or in the exploration of previously unknown types of compounds, X-ray crystallography is the definitive technique for this purpose. This proposal is for an X-ray diffractometer that will significantly enhance the capabilities of all synthetic and natural produc ....An X-ray Diffraction Facility for Molecular Structure Determination. Characterisation of new chemical compounds demands proof of molecular structure. Whether for the identification of a new drug candidate, a material with novel properties or in the exploration of previously unknown types of compounds, X-ray crystallography is the definitive technique for this purpose. This proposal is for an X-ray diffractometer that will significantly enhance the capabilities of all synthetic and natural products chemistry research programs undertaken at the Universities of Queensland and Newcastle, all currently in receipt of ARC funding. This research is aligned with the ARC National Research Priorities, of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries.Read moreRead less
Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting e ....Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting edge ligands will reveal interesting coordination modes. The discovery of new reaction pathways will be of interest to the wider chemical community. The chemical reactivity and potential catalytic or luminescent properties of these compounds will be studied and will result in publications in international journals.Read moreRead less
New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tack ....New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tackles this problem through a combination of organic and inorganic synthesis to develop new electrochromic dyes that may be attached to mesoporous titania.Read moreRead less
Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these w ....Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these ways, in order to provide the information necessary to refine procedures and design new molecules suitable for advanced applications. Expected outcomes are new methods and architectures that can ultimately yield devices that act at the molecular level.Read moreRead less
New vistas in porphyrin chemistry via metal-catalyzed couplings with hydrazine derivatives. This project will address basic scientific questions and develop new substances for use in molecular electronics and cancer therapy. We will make and study entirely new molecules derived from porphyrins, which in Nature have vital roles in photosynthesis, oxygen transport and enzyme catalysis. This breakthrough research will reveal knowledge vital to the advancement of fundamental chemical science and als ....New vistas in porphyrin chemistry via metal-catalyzed couplings with hydrazine derivatives. This project will address basic scientific questions and develop new substances for use in molecular electronics and cancer therapy. We will make and study entirely new molecules derived from porphyrins, which in Nature have vital roles in photosynthesis, oxygen transport and enzyme catalysis. This breakthrough research will reveal knowledge vital to the advancement of fundamental chemical science and also offer excellent training in cutting edge research for young Australian scientists. In addition, porphyrin-like substances are used in cancer diagnosis and treatment and have properties essential for the next generation of nanoelectronic devices, and this project is aimed at these eventual outcomes.Read moreRead less